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These native plants are a magnet for garden wildlife
You don’t need a wild meadow or expensive garden features to make your outdoor space more wildlife-friendly. One of the simplest ways to support birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects is to grow more native plants — and even a few well-chosen varieties can make a noticeable difference.
Having evolved alongside local wildlife, native plants are perfectly adapted to UK conditions and provide the food, shelter and nesting opportunities that pollinators and birds naturally rely on. Better still, they're often easy to grow, resilient and wonderfully low maintenance.
From colourful cottage garden favourites to evergreen climbers, these native plants will help bring more birds, bees and butterflies into your garden while adding plenty of beauty and seasonal interest to your outdoor space.
With their elegant tall spires and bell-shaped flowers, foxgloves are one of the UK's most iconic native wildflowers and a classic addition to summer borders.
‘Foxgloves are a magnet for bees,’ says Chris Bonnett, gardening expert at Gardening Express. ‘Its colourful bell-shaped flowers are packed with nectar and make a real statement in summer borders, especially in shadier spots.’
They thrive in moist but well-drained soil and will often self-seed if left undisturbed, rewarding you with fresh displays year after year. Leave spent flower spikes in place if you'd like them to spread naturally around the garden.
A charming sign of spring, primroses are an easy-to-grow native favourite whose early blooms provide an important nectar source for pollinators emerging after winter.
‘These work well in shaded borders and woodland-style gardens,’ explains Chris. ‘Their dense foliage also provides useful cover for insects during the warmer months.’
Primroses prefer cool conditions and moist but well-drained soil. Once established, they require very little attention beyond occasional watering during prolonged dry spells and removing tired foliage when needed.
If you're looking to create a more wildlife-friendly garden, planting a native hedge is one of the most rewarding choices – and hawthorn is among the very best.
‘Hawthorn attracts pollinators with its blossoms and provides shelter and nesting spots for birds, while also producing autumn berries that provide an important food source for wildlife later in the year,’ says Chris.
Hardy and adaptable, hawthorn grows well in most soil types and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. A light trim after the bird nesting season will help maintain its shape, while preserving its value for wildlife.
Often overlooked, ivy is one of the most valuable native plants for supporting wildlife throughout the year, offering both shelter and a reliable source of food.
‘Its thick evergreen foliage works well along fences, walls and other outdoor structures,’ Chris tells us.
Whether allowed to climb walls, fences or trees, ivy needs very little maintenance once established. An occasional prune will keep it tidy while still allowing birds and insects to benefit from its flowers, berries and dense cover.
As well as adding structure to a garden, rowan is a beautiful native tree that brings subtle interest throughout summer.
‘Rowan is a compact native tree that brings greenery and structure to gardens,’ says Chris. ‘Later in the year, it produces bright berries that are beneficial for birds.’
It grows best in full sun or light shade with well-drained soil. Mature specimens are generally low maintenance and only need occasional pruning to remove damaged branches.
Renowned for its sweet fragrance, this native climber is a magnet for pollinators throughout summer. It also provides valuable shelter and nesting sites for garden wildlife.
‘Honeysuckle fills gardens with a fragrance that attracts moths, which in turn will feed birds and bats,’ Chris explains. ‘It's ideal for growing up fences, arches and trellises to create a more wildlife-friendly space.’
Fast-growing and easy to train over supports, once established it only needs an annual prune after flowering to encourage healthy new growth.
Bringing a relaxed, wildflower feel to borders, red campion flowers throughout summer, while supporting a wide variety of pollinators.
‘Red campion flowers throughout summer and is particularly attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies,’ says Chris. ‘It’s a hardy wildflower that grows well in borders, around hedges and in lightly shaded areas.’
Easy to care for, it tolerates a range of soil types and doesn't require regular deadheading. Allowing some flowers to set seed will encourage natural self-seeding, creating an even richer habitat.
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